The Electrical Parade at California Adventure
June 17, 2009 in All Posts, disney california adventure, disneyland resort, entertainment, summer
The Electrical Parade is back this summer and brighter than ever at California Adventure. I watched it Thursday night after having not seen it since it left Disneyland in a storm of hysteria back in the 1990s. Back then I was a tour guide and I had many shifts in City Hall and fielded countless complaints and frantic pleas for its stay of execution when the parade ended. We then sold light bulbs in “collector boxes” for $10 each. (Truly the most expensive Christmas lights EVER.) At the time, people went crazy buying these single bulbs displayed under clear...
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Terrific Tip Tuesday #2 & Magcial Fireworks
June 16, 2009 in All Posts, disneyland, disneyland resort, entertainment, summer, Tips & Tricks for Families
On June 12, Disneyland unveiled it’s newest fireworks extravaganza, Magical. I was lucky enough to preview the fireworks at the summer media event on June 11. The show and its accompanying music are beautiful. Eden Espinosa, broadway star (she played Elphaba in the L.A. presentation of the show Wicked for those of you in So Cal) and former Disneyland Cast Member has recorded a wonderful medley of Disney classics that will melt your heart. The show is amazingly choreographed and features fireworks exclusive to the Disneyland Resort. Perhaps most breath-taking is when Dumbo takes to the sky flapping his...
A Five-hour Whirlwind
June 10, 2009 in All Posts, babies & toddlers, Big Kids, disneyland, disneyland resort
Here in southern California, it’s hard to believe that the dog days of summer are almost here when you look outside and see dreary June gloom all around us. Nonetheless, before you know it we’ll soon be dealing with sweltering hot days and blackout days with the So Cal annual passes. Anticipating my seven-week hiatus away from the Happiest Place on Earth, I am trying to pack in as much time as possible in Disneyland now through June 26. On Monday I loaded up like a pack mule and took the boys for a five and a half hour trip...
Fun Fact Friday #1: The secret of the Candy Palace
June 5, 2009 in All Posts, disneyland, disneyland resort, main street, merchandise, shopping tips
Have you ever walked by the Candy Palace and felt sucked in by the delicious aroma of the candy inside? The smell is almost intoxicating. The truth of the matter is that the sweet vanilla smell you get a whiff of is not the smell of the candy from inside at all. If you look just below the candy makers’ windows you will see what looks like small green decorations worked into the architecture. Those little green circles are actually vents that pump out a sweet vanilla scent (think one of those Glade Plug-ins on steroids). Genius, right?!
As a child and even a teenager, I had one very favorite Disney cartoon. It was the short with the bears picking up the trash in Brownstone Park. The had a hilarious dance and song that always made me grin. I’ve been searching for it for years…a lot of years. I knew it still existed because when I was talking to a friend about it ten years ago, a couple of men poked their heads into the conversation to say that they worked for Disney and had helped to remaster the short. Anyway, I found it today on youtube....
California Adventure Boardwalk
May 18, 2009 in All Posts, disney california adventure, disneyland resort, paradise pier
Recently, we visited California Adventure and I played the games in the Boardwalk area of the park with my family. This is something I’ve never let the kids do. In fact, my kids didn’t even know there were games to play anywhere at the resort. Up until this particular day I was always quite “bah-hum-bug” about the games. “We come here to go on rides and see the shows,” I would say. “I don’t want to spend our money on carnival games.” My husband and I would quickly avert the children’s attention toward some other landmark as we briskly walked...
Celebration Roundup Barbeque
May 17, 2009 in All Posts, character dining, dining, disneyland, disneyland resort, frontierland
I can’t believe that it’s been three weeks since I said I’d be back with more Disneyland summer information. Since most of my readers are moms, you know how it is, life just gets in the way. Between a big project I’ve been working on at work and wrapping up the redesign of Babes in Disneyland (the site), I’ve been swamped. I’m excited to tell everyone about a new dining experience back at Big Thunder Ranch. For those of you who aren’t well acquainted with Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch is nestled along Big Thunder Trail, which is the trail that...
Bibbi Bobbidi Boutique is Now Open
May 10, 2009 in All Posts, Big Kids, boys, disneyland, disneyland resort, fantasyland, girls
In the spring I wrote about the Bibbi Bobbidi Boutique’s (BBB) scheduled spring opening. This store/salon celebrated its grand opening in April and it’s been turing little girls into princesses and boys into knights ever since. Geared mostly for little girls, BBB offers a complete makeover service for little girls. Girls can choose from three different hair styles – Fairytale Princess, Disney Diva or Pop Princess – in three magical makeover packages. The lease expensive packages is $45 and includes a hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess bag and body jewels. At the top end of the range, is the...
“it’s a small world” is Back
February 11, 2009 in "it's a small world", All Posts, attractions, disneyland, disneyland resort, fantasyland, fun facts
On February 6, the beloved Disneyland attraction “it’s a small world” once again set sail after months and months of major refurbishments. Complete with the premiere of a new “Spirit of America” scene, new musical enhancements, and a new look for some of the attraction’s familiar child dolls, “it’s a small world” is once again taking guests of all ages on “the happiest cruise that ever sailed.” This classic attraction has been renovated and enhanced while retaining the world-renowned charm that holds such a special place in the hearts of Disneyland guests. The “it’s a small world” journey continues...
Let’s Hear It for the Boys!
January 26, 2009 in All Posts, babies & toddlers, Big Kids, boys, disney california adventure, disneyland resort
The Disneyland Resort is a wonderful place for all children, but sometimes it can be more of a girls’ world than one for boys with the teams of princess and fairies all about the resort. I cannot tell you how absolutely overjoyed my boys and I were to stumble upon the new Cars photo location in California Adventure. Yes, I know, I never write much about California Adventure, but I had to mention this amazing photo opportunity for boys. I could barely hold my two boys back as we waited in line to visit with the lifesize Lightning McQueen...